Umtiti gained his call-up to the French squad at this tournament only after injuries ruled out Raphael Varane and Jérémy Mathieu, with Mamadou Sakho banned, and he was uncapped until Adil Rami’s suspension prompted involvement against Iceland.

Given that all Chris Froome’s stage wins in the Tour de France prior to this year had come either in uphill finishes or time trials, there were grounds for claiming that the double Tour de France winner was a cyclist with a relatively limited register based on sheer power on mountain tops and against the watch.